A Royal Marine marksman efficiently disabled a drug smuggler's boat with a exact rifle shot to the engine of the vessel.
The fastidiously executed shot was taken from inside a helicopter flying in reverse over the waters close to Iran.
The extraordinary maritime intervention resulted in authorities seizing narcotics price £35million.
The operation noticed the sniper hearth a single spherical from an L121A1 anti-materiel rifle.
The present struck the speedboat's engine because it travelled at 40 knots.
The marksman operated from the facet door of a Wildcat helicopter, which flew backwards to create optimum taking pictures circumstances.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed this represented one of many Royal Navy's most spectacular anti-narcotics operations in Center Japanese waters.
The mission, coordinated from HMS Lancaster, resulted within the interception of three vessels and the confiscation of over 1.5 tonnes of unlawful substances.
The operation marked the primary deployment of British snipers towards maritime smugglers within the Gulf area.
Usually, traffickers make use of slower vessels which are simpler to intercept by boat.
Nonetheless, as a result of excessive velocity of the watercraft, the Royal Marines deployed this unpredictable technique.
The .50 calibre spherical fired from the anti-materiel weapon exactly struck its goal through the high-speed pursuit.
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The backwards flight approach offered the marksman with a "regular" taking pictures place, enabling the distinctive accuracy required for the mission.
This tactical method has beforehand been employed in Caribbean waters, the place drug runners continuously utilise quick boats to evade seize.
The dramatic intervention concluded an prolonged maritime pursuit off Iranian coastal waters.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, a former Particular Forces commando, praised the Royal Navy's "excellent work" in executing the advanced operation.
He mentioned: "This was a nicely deliberate operation culminating in a surgical shot by a Royal Marines sniper disabling the engine of a vessel touring at 40 knots. That's excellence at work."
Lieutenant Man Warry, who piloted the Wildcat helicopter through the mission, described the expertise as a career-defining second.
He mentioned: "Firing on drug working skiffs while flying backwards to offer a steady platform for the snipers was undoubtedly a profession spotlight."
HMS Lancaster's commanding officer, Commander Sam Stephens, expressed delight in his crew's efficiency through the prolonged pursuit.
He mentioned: "I'm vastly pleased with the crew's professionalism, endurance, and talent all through what was a protracted chase."
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